Method and apparatus for data transfer

ABSTRACT

A method for data transfer includes: detecting the initiation of a primary service function being performed on an entity in a known location; responsive to the detection, establishing a communications link ( 150 ) with the entity; managing a transfer of data via the communications link ( 150 ); and terminating the data transfer when at least one condition has been met. A device for enabling a communications link to be established with an entity while it is being refueled includes: a first communications element ( 414 ) coupled to a fueling system; and a second communications element ( 434 ) coupled to the entity, wherein a communications link ( 150 ) is established with the entity when the first and second communications elements ( 414,434 ) are operatively aligned.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to data transfer, and morespecifically to managing the transfer of data to and from an entity.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There is a need to communicate ever increasing amounts of information toand from entities such as, for instance, cars, trucks, helicopters,boats, etc., in support of new applications. An example of one suchapplication is in-car digital video archiving, wherein large amounts ofdata, for instance several gigabytes, must be uploaded from a vehicle(or one or more devices in the vehicle) to one or more data repositorieson a regular basis. Other applications may require the ability todownload large amounts of information to the vehicle, for instance, toupdate maps or databases.

In the above example of in-car digital video archiving, there is a knownmethod for uploading video data from, for instance, a public safetyvehicle to one or more data repositories. In accordance with thisprocess, a public safety official manually removes a video archivingdevice from the vehicle and physically connects it to a data repositoryfor data upload on a dedicated communications link. These datarepositories are normally housed in some central location, such as alocal police station.

A drawback of this method of transferring the video data is that it canonly be done when the vehicle's video archiving device and the datarepository are in the same physical location. An additional drawback ofthis process is that it requires the video archiving device to bephysically removed from the vehicle. This subjects the video archivingdevice and its electrical connectors to mechanical stress, thusdecreasing the operational lifetime of the device.

In the above example, a physical connection and a dedicatedcommunications link is used for the data transfer. However, it isfeasible that various wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) technologiescould also be used to support the transfer of large amounts of data toand from vehicles. For instance, there may be a data transfer when thevehicle is in a physical location that is near a data repository. Thisprocess does not require the officer to remove the archiving device fromthe vehicle. Nor does it require a dedicated communications link.However, data transfer using a WLAN technology does require the vehicleto be within communication range of a data repository. In practice,vehicles may not be within range at either optimal times to reducewireless contention or for long enough periods of time to complete thedata transfers. Furthermore, because WLAN access points are typicallyshared by multiple clients, throughput (and ultimately transfer speed)likely cannot compete with a dedicated, exclusive link.

Thus, there exists a need for a method and apparatus: to enable thetransfer of data to or from a vehicle during a time in which the vehicleis in a known physical location for a predictable time period; toprovide a high bandwidth data transfer methodology that is easilyimplemented; and to optionally provide appropriate feedback to anoperator to facilitate completion of the data transfer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

A preferred embodiment of the invention is now described, by way ofexample only, with reference to the accompanying figures in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a simple block diagram of a system for data transferin accordance with an embodiment the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a system for data transfer to or from a vehicle whileit is being refueled, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a flow diagram of a method for data transfer inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates apparatus for establishing a data communications linkwith a vehicle during refueling, in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention

FIG. 5 illustrates a simple block diagram of a system for data transferin accordance with another embodiment the present invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates a system for data transfer to or from a vehicle whileit is being refueled, in accordance with another embodiment of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 7 illustrates a simple block diagram of a system for data transferin accordance with another embodiment the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many differentforms, there are shown in the figures and will herein be described indetail specific embodiments, with the understanding that the presentdisclosure is to be considered as an example of the principles of theinvention and not intended to limit the invention to the specificembodiments shown and described. Further, the terms and words usedherein are not to be considered limiting, but rather merely descriptive.It will also be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity ofillustration, elements shown in the figures have not necessarily beendrawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements areexaggerated relative to each other. Further, where consideredappropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the figures toindicate corresponding elements.

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for data transferto and from a vehicle as a function of a primary service function beingperformed on the vehicle. It should also be understood that datatransfer to and from a vehicle includes data transfer to and from one ormore devices in, coupled to, or incorporated into the vehicle. Usuallythe primary service function would be performed periodically, and likelyduring regular and predictable intervals, so that the data transfer toor from the vehicle would be performed during regular and periodicintervals. Moreover, the primary service function may be, for instancebut not limited to, the refueling of a vehicle, cleaning the interior orexterior of a vehicle, performing an oil change on a vehicle, heating avehicle's engine, for instance during off-hours, in cold environments,or loading and unloading cargo from a vehicle. As will be shown indetail below, one of the benefits of the present invention is that thetransfer of data to or from a vehicle is enabled during a time in whichthe vehicle is in a known physical location for a predictable period oftime.

FIG. 1 illustrates a simple block diagram of a system 100 for datatransfer in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.System 100 includes a communications network element 110, which may be aserver or that may comprise one or more servers and additional networkconnectivity elements such as routers, etc., that resides on a fixednetwork infrastructure and that is coupled to one or more datarepositories (not shown), a data communications controller 120, a firstcommunications element 130 that is coupled to a system for performing aprimary service function on a vehicle, and a second communicationselement 140 that is coupled to the vehicle. The data communicationscontroller 120 manages the transfer of data between the vehicle and oneor more data repositories. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, thedata communications controller 120 resides on the fixed infrastructureof the communications network common to the one or more datarepositories.

Data transfer to and from the vehicle is enabled using system 100 asfollows. Upon detection of the initiation of a primary service function,a communications link 150 is established that enables the transfer ofdata to or from the vehicle. Communications link 150 may be established,for instance, as a function of the operative coupling of the firstcommunications element 130 that is coupled to the primary servicefunction system and the second communications element 140 that iscoupled to the vehicle. The data communications controller 120 thenmanages the transfer of data from the vehicle to communications networkelement 110, and ultimately to a data repository via the establishedcommunications link 150. In the same manner, data may be transferredfrom the data repository to the vehicle via the establishedcommunications link 150. Then upon the termination of the servicefunction and, correspondingly, the communications link 150, oralternatively, upon the completion of the transfer of a predeterminedamount of data, the data communications controller 120 manages thetermination of the data transfer.

FIG. 2 illustrates a system 200 for data transfer to or from a vehiclein accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In thisembodiment, the primary service function being performed on the vehicleis refueling. However, those of ordinary skill in the art will realizethat system 100 can be modified for implementation with other servicefunctions including, but not limited to, those listed above. System 200includes a communications network element 240 that resides on a fixednetwork infrastructure and that is coupled to one or more datarepositories, a data communications controller 230, a firstcommunications element (not shown) that may be coupled to a fueldelivery nozzle 224 (also referred to herein as a fuel nozzle and thatmay include, but is not limited to a nozzle portion, a handle, a fuelrelease lever, and a hose) of a refueling system 220, and a secondcommunications element (not shown) that may be coupled to a vehicle 210.The functionality of the elements of system 200 will be described belowby reference to the flow diagram illustrated in FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 illustrates a flow diagram of a method for data transfer inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention. According to thepresent invention, the data transfer between the vehicle and one or moredata repositories is managed as a function of at least one action takenduring a primary service function being performed on the vehicle. Forthe sake of clarity, this flow diagram will be described by reference tosystem 200 in FIG. 2, wherein vehicle refueling is the primary servicefunction. Refueling refers to any type of fuel, including, but notlimited to, hydrocarbon-based fuels such as gasoline, diesel, naturalgas, hydrogen and electricity. However, this description is in no wayintended to limit the applicability of the invention to refueling. Thoseof ordinary skill in the art will realize that the method illustrated bythe flow diagram of FIG. 3 may be implemented in accordance withadditional embodiments including, but not limited to, embodimentswherein the primary service function is one of those listed above.

Accordingly, where the primary service function is refueling, theinitiation and transfer of data between the vehicle and one or more datarepositories and the termination of the data transfer may be controlledas a function of at least one action taken during the refueling process.These actions may include, but are not limited to: authorizing arefueling transaction; providing a means of payment; removing the fuelnozzle from a pump cradle; inserting the fuel nozzle into the vehicle'sfiller neck (also referred to herein as a fuel receptacle); activating afuel release lever; monitoring the fuel delivery; releasing the fuelrelease lever; removing the fuel nozzle from the vehicle's filler neck;or returning the fuel nozzle into the pump cradle.

Returning to the detailed description of the flow diagram illustrated inFIG. 3, the first step is detecting the initiation of a primary servicefunction being performed on the vehicle. In the present example, whereinthe primary service function is refueling, the signal may be generatedas a function of, for instance, an operator of a fuel pump squeezing thefuel release lever or as a function of fuel flowing into the vehicle.This signal may be detected within the refueling system 220 using knownprocesses and communicated to the data communications controller 230using a predefined protocol and conventional communications means knownin the art such as short range wireless technologies or via a physicalconnection. In an alternative embodiment, a signal may be generated bythe first communications element, e.g., 130, upon its activation, ormore likely generated by the second communications element, e.g., 140,upon its activation, wherein the data communications controller 230 maysense this signal using conventional means known in the art.

Once the initiation of the primary service function is detected, acommunications link may be established with the vehicle or acommunications device that is coupled to the vehicle. This step mayinclude, for instance, identifying the vehicle being serviced,authenticating the vehicle's identity, authorizing a data transferbetween the vehicle and one or more data repositories, determining theamount of data to be transferred, and setting up the communicationslink.

The vehicle identification information may be used to authenticate thevehicle, to authorize the data transfer transaction, or to determine anetwork address for one or more in-car communication devices to enablethe data transfer. The vehicle identification information may also beused by the primary service function system, for instance, the refuelingsystem 220, for purposes of billing and accounting related to theprimary service function. In one embodiment, the network address andother parameters such as, for instance, vehicle identification number,vehicle license plate number, vehicle asset number, vehicular devicecapabilities, or current operator identification, may be stored with thevehicle identification information. Moreover, the vehicle identificationinformation may be used in conjunction with an administrative databaseto maintain authentication, authorization, and network deviceinformation. This database may also be configured to indicate the typeof data transfer transactions permitted, e.g., video upload, applicationdownload, etc.

In one embodiment of the present invention, wherein the primary servicefunction is refueling, the fuel delivery nozzle may be equipped with amechanism to uniquely identify the vehicle being refueled. For instance,when the fuel nozzle is inserted into the vehicle's filler neck, amechanism associated with the nozzle may read the vehicleidentification. The vehicle identification may, for instance, be in theform of physical markings, such as a bar code. The vehicle may also beidentified via, for instance, a passive component such as a radiofrequency identification (RFID) tag, or an active component such as aradio, an ultrasonic transmitter or a conduction transponder, whereinthe vehicle's identification information may be readable by, forinstance, a conventional device coupled to or embedded in the fuelnozzle.

In an alternate embodiment, authorization and accounting information maybe provided by the operator into a fuel pump to identify the vehicle.These means may include, for instance, swiping a credit card, turning akey, utilizing a smart card technology, scanning an employee badge, orother conventional means known in the art.

In yet another embodiment, the vehicle's identification information maybe stored within a network device inside the vehicle. The authorizationand accounting transaction may then be conducted in a conventionalmanner solely within the confines of the communication link between thevehicle based network device and the second communications element 140.Moreover, this authorization and accounting transaction may, forinstance, be initiated based upon the detection that the fueling processhas been initiated.

The actual data communications link between the vehicle and devices inthe infrastructure may be accomplished using a variety of means such as,for instance, short range wireless technologies, optical technologies,and physical connections. It will also be realized that establishing acommunications link with the vehicle may also include establishing acommunications link with one or more communications devices, housed in,coupled to, or integrated within the vehicle. Various embodiments ofestablishing the actual communications link with the vehicle duringrefueling will be later described by reference to the communicationsapparatus illustrated in FIG. 4.

Returning again to the detailed description of the flow diagramillustrated in FIG. 3, the step of establishing the communications linkmay also include, for instance, the data communications controller 230determining an amount of data to be transferred. For instance, the datacommunications controller 230 may retrieve information from theinfrastructure, e.g., a data repository, regarding the amount ofinformation to be downloaded to the vehicle. The data communicationscontroller 230 may then estimate the amount of time needed to completethe primary service function, for instance using one or more deviceslocated on the fuel pump or the vehicle, and may then use thisinformation to determine the amount of data to be downloaded such thatthe data transfer may be completed prior to the completion of theprimary service function. Alternatively, the data communicationscontroller 230 may communicate with at least one device onboard thevehicle, once a communications link has been established with thevehicle, and, by this means, determine the amount of information to beuploaded from the vehicle. The data communications controller mayalternatively be configured to estimate the amount of information to beuploaded from the vehicle, for instance, as a function of determiningthe amount of time that has elapsed since the last upload from a givenvehicle.

Once the communications link is established, the data transfer maycommence between the vehicle and one or more data repositories via theestablished communications link. In one embodiment, when the fueltransfer begins, the data communication controller 230 may, forinstance, initiate the data transfer with one or more devices in thevehicle as indicated by information retrieved from a database connectedto the network infrastructure. The data communications controller 230may then manage the data transfer until either the communications linkis disrupted, for instance by the completion of the primary servicefunction, or until the data transfer is completed.

The data transfer may optionally be paced with the primary servicefunction using a variety of means. In one embodiment, the refuelingsystem may provide an audible, visual or other type of indication whenthe refueling and data transfer tasks are started and when they arecompleted. For instance, a display associated with the fuel nozzle orthe fuel pump may give an indication of the upload or download progress.This progress may be indicated in a variety of ways, including, but notlimited to, an expected time to completion display, a progress bardisplay, or similar means. Other status and progress information suchas, for instance, file names, video clip date/time markers, etc., mayalso be displayed. The operator may then initiate the refueling and,thereby, the data transfer, and disrupt the communications link byterminating the refueling process only after receiving an indicationthat both the refueling and the data transfer are complete.

In another embodiment, the automated completion of the flow of fuel intothe vehicle, the releasing of the fuel release lever or the removal ofthe fuel nozzle from the vehicle's fuel receptacle may be a warning ofimpending loss of communication ability. The data communicationscontroller 230 may use the warning to stop the data transfer at a knownpoint or to warn the operator by audible or visual or other means of anincomplete data transfer such as to cause the operator to leave the fuelnozzle in the fuel receptacle until the data transfer is complete. Instill another embodiment, the automated completion of the flow of fuelinto the vehicle, the releasing of the fuel release lever or the removalof the fuel nozzle from the vehicle's fuel receptacle may be a commandto the data communications controller 230 to immediately terminate thedata transfer.

FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic diagram of apparatus for establishing adata communications link with a vehicle, wherein the primary servicefunction is refueling. This communications apparatus includes a firstcommunications element 414 coupled to a fuel nozzle 404. FIG. 4illustrates communications element 414 being coupled to a nozzle portion412 of fuel nozzle 404. However, those of ordinary skill in the art willrealize that in other embodiments, communications element 414 may becoupled or incorporated within other areas of a fuel pump (not shown) orthe fuel nozzle 404, including in a fuel hose 418, a handle 410, or afuel release lever 416. The communications apparatus further includes asecond communications element 434 coupled to a vehicle 420. FIG. 4illustrates the communications element 434 being coupled to a fuelreceptacle 430 of the vehicle 420, but those of ordinary skill in theart will realize that the communications element 434 may be coupled toor incorporated within other areas of the vehicle 420.

Various embodiments of establishing the actual communications link withthe vehicle during refueling will now be described by reference to thecommunications apparatus illustrated in FIG. 4. The communications linkenables data to be uploaded from or downloaded to the vehicle or adevice therein and is established, for instance, upon communicationselement 414 and communications element 434 being operatively aligned oroperatively coupled together.

In a first embodiment, the communications link with the vehicle isestablished as a function of an electrical connection being made betweenthe communication element 414 in the nozzle portion 412 and thecommunications element 434 in the vehicle's fuel receptacle 430.Communications element 414 may include one or more conductive leads, andcommunications element 434 may include one or more conducting surfaces.Alternatively, communications element 434 may include one or moreconductive leads, and communications element 414 may include one or moreconducting surfaces. The electrical connection is formed when theconducting leads make contact with the conducting surfaces. Variousmechanical methods known in the art may be used, for instance, toautomatically line up the conductive leads with the conducting surfaces.Moreover, the communications element 414 is illustrated in FIG. 4 asbeing connected to the nozzle portion 412 of the fuel nozzle 404.However, those of ordinary skill in the art will realize thatcommunications element 414 may also be coupled to other parts of fuelnozzle 404 including, but not limited to, a vapor recovery housing (notshown in FIG. 4).

In an alternate embodiment, the communications link with the vehicle isestablished as a function of an electrical field coupling being madebetween the communication element 414 in the fuel nozzle 404 and thecommunications element 434 in the vehicle's fuel receptacle 430.Communications element 414 may include one or more wireless devices andcommunications element 434 may include one or more wireless devices. Forinstance, communications elements 414 and 434 may each comprise one ormore antennas. In one configuration, a strip line antenna may beincorporated into the fuel nozzle 404 such as by being molded into thevapor recovery housing and one or more antennas may placed around thevehicle's fuel receptacle 430 to eliminate the need to precisely placethe fuel nozzle into the filler neck. The antennas coupled to the fuelnozzle 404 and those couple to the vehicle 420 may then each be coupledto respective low power radios that include a transmitter and areceiver.

Each radio may be collocated with its corresponding antenna or antennas.Alternatively, each radio may be located elsewhere within the refuelingsystem and the vehicle and cabled to the respective antennas. In oneembodiment, each radio is a microwatt-level 16-GHz radio that provides a1 GB/s data link. In another embodiment, each radio is a communicationsentity utilizing WLAN radio transmission technology. Those of ordinaryskill in the art will realize that other types of radios, other powerlevels and other frequencies could be utilized. The wirelesscommunications link may be used as part of a 1000Base-T Ethernetnetwork, for instance, by coupling the radio associated withcommunications element 414 to the data communications controller 230.The resulting system would provide a very high-speed contactlessinterconnect that is compatible with standard data networkingtechnology.

The wireless devices described by reference to the above embodiment wereantennas. However, those of ordinary skill in the art will realize thatcommunications elements 414 and 434 may comprise wireless devices thatmay take other forms known in the art. For instance, communicationselements 414 and 434 may each be configured as a plate of a capacitorand the communications link established as a function of the capacitivecoupling of communications elements 414 and 434. Alternatively, thecommunications link may be established as a function of the inductivecoupling of communications elements 414 and 434.

In yet another embodiment, the communications link with the vehicle isestablished as a function of an optical coupling being made between thecommunication element 414 in the nozzle portion 412 and thecommunications element 434 in the vehicle's fuel receptacle 430.Communications elements 414 and 434 may include one or more opticaldevices such as, for instance, optical emitters and detectors that whenoperatively coupled facilitate the communications link between thedevices on board the vehicle and the devices on the infrastructure. Inone embodiment, the emitters and detectors 414 may, for instance, may bearranged in a straight line on the nozzle portion 412 in the directionof insertion of the nozzle portion into vehicle's fuel receptacle 430.Correspondingly on the vehicle, the optical emitters and detectors 434may be, for instance, arranged perpendicular to the direction ofinsertion of the fuel nozzle 412 into the vehicle's fuel receptacle 430,such as by being circumferentially mounted on the vehicle's fuelreceptacle 430. Alternatively, the emitters and detectors 434 may, forinstance, may be arranged in a straight line on the vehicle's fuelreceptacle 430 in the direction of insertion of the nozzle portion 412into vehicle's fuel receptacle. Correspondingly on the fueling system,the optical emitters and detectors 414 may be, for instance, arrangedperpendicular to the direction of insertion of the nozzle portion 412into the vehicle's fuel receptacle 430, such as by beingcircumferentially mounted on the nozzle portion 412. When the nozzleportion 412 is inserted into the vehicle's fuel receptacle 430, opticalcoupling is formed where the straight line emitters and detectors are inclose proximity with the circumferentially-mounted emitters anddetectors. Base-band or modulated signaling may be used. Infrared,visible or ultraviolet light emitters and detectors may, alternatively,be used. The optical devices may, thereby, provide a 1 GB/s data linkthat may, for instance, be used as part of a 1000Base-T Ethernet link.

Those skilled in the art will realize that, in an alternative WLANembodiment, the location of the WLAN radios and associated directionalantennas may not necessarily be coupled to the refueling system and thevehicle as indicated in FIG. 4, but may be coupled in alternative ways.For instance, communications element 414 may be mounted to an area abovethe refueling system, and communication element 434 may be mounted onthe roof of the vehicle. Moreover, the WLAN radio associated with therefueling system may be cabled to the data communications controller 230via a suitably fast wired connection, such as a 1000Base-T or a1000Base-T Ethernet link. In this instance, the data communicationscontroller 230 may be connected to the communications network element240.

FIG. 5 illustrates a simple block diagram of a system 100 for datatransfer in accordance with an alternative WLAN embodiment such as theone described in the previous paragraph. System 100 of FIG. 5 includeselements that are similar to those elements that comprise system 100 inFIG. 1. However the connectivity between the elements illustrated inFIG. 5 and their associated functionality is slightly different from theconnectivity and the associated functionality of the elementsillustrated in FIG. 1. System 100 of FIG. 5 may include a communicationsnetwork element 110 that resides on a fixed network infrastructure andthat is coupled to one or more data repositories (not shown), a datacommunications controller 120, a first communications element 130 thatis coupled to a system for performing a primary service function on avehicle, a second communications element 140 that is coupled to thevehicle, and a WLAN device 160 such as a WLAN access point that may be,for instance, coupled in a conventional fashion to the primary servicefunction system or, alternatively to an area sufficiently close to theprimary service function system. The data communications controller 120manages the transfer of data between the vehicle and one or more datarepositories. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, the datacommunications controller 120 resides on the fixed infrastructure of thecommunications network common to the one or more data repositories.

Data transfer to and from the vehicle is enabled using system 100 asfollows. Upon detection of the initiation of a primary service function,a communications link is established via the WLAN device 160, whichenables the transfer of data to or from the vehicle. The initiation ofthe primary service function may be communicated, for instance, via thefirst communications element 130 coupled to the primary service functionsystem. The data communications controller 120 may then manage thetransfer of data from the vehicle to communications network element 110,and ultimately to a data repository via the established communicationslink. In the same manner, data may be transferred from the datarepository to the vehicle via the established communications link. Thenupon the termination of the service function and, correspondingly, thecommunications link, or alternatively, upon the completion of thetransfer of a predetermined amount of data, the data communicationscontroller 120 manages the termination of the data transfer. Those ofordinary skill in the art will realize that the method for data transferin accordance with the embodiment of the invention illustrated in theflow diagram illustrated in FIG. 3 can be performed by the system 100illustrated in FIG. 5.

In accordance with this WLAN embodiment, when the vehicle is within aclose and predictable distance, for instance limited by the length ofthe hose 418, and at a predictable orientation, for instance based onthe vehicle's fuel receptacle 430, the WLAN can be optimized to useshort-range transmissions and directional antennas to reduceinterference and contention from other nearby vehicles or refuelingstations when transferring data to or from the vehicle via the WLANradios. Such contention issues may be a significant problem with ahigh-density of WLAN nodes, such as would be typically found in a motorpool full of vehicles all trying to simultaneously exchange information.Since the data communication controller 230 initiates communication witha single vehicle waiting at the pump, the possibility of communicationcontention is greatly reduced and information download or upload time isthereby reduced.

To optimize the WLAN embodiment described above, the data communicationscontroller 230 may instruct communications element 414 to transmitinitial signals at a relatively high power and thus longer range,perhaps providing a range of ten of feet. Once communications with theidentified vehicle is established, the data communications controller230 may then instruct communications element 414 to transmit additionalsignals, including data signals to or from the vehicle, at a reducedpower with a corresponding reduction in range to a few feet and acorresponding reduction in interference. Alternatively, the datacommunications controller 230 may instruct the communications element414 to transmit the initial signals using several antennas (one of whichmay be the antenna associated with communications element 414) toprovide for omni-directional or hemispherical coverage. Oncecommunications with the identified vehicle is established, the datacommunications controller 230 may then instruct communications element414 to select a single antenna, for instance the one associated withcommunications element 414, to transmit the additional signals,including data signals to or from the vehicle.

FIG. 6 illustrates a system 200 for data transfer to or from a vehiclein accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In thisembodiment, the primary service function being performed on the vehicleis refueling. System 200 includes similar elements to those comprisingsystem 200 of FIG. 2. System 200 of FIG. 6 may include a communicationsnetwork element 240 that resides on a fixed network infrastructure andthat is coupled to one or more data repositories, a data communicationscontroller 230, a first communications element (not shown) that may becoupled to a fuel nozzle 224 of a refueling system 220, a secondcommunications element (not shown) that may be coupled to a vehicle 210,and a WLAN access point 250. Similarly to system 200 in FIG. 2, system200 of FIG. 6 functions in accordance with the flow diagram illustratedin FIG. 3 and described above in detail.

To facilitate a more efficient transfer of data the first communicationselement 130 (FIG. 5) may also communicate to the data communicationscontroller 120 (FIG. 5) vehicle identification information, forinstance, received from the second communications element 140 through acommunications link 170. Since the vehicle is in a fixed position duringthe process of refueling, the communication parameters may be optimizedin a manner not possible with moving vehicles. By specificallyidentifying the vehicle being refueled, this method eliminates thepossibility of starting a data exchange with a non-optimally-placedvehicle (that happens to be within communication range), thereby withdecreasing interference, enhancing in overall system capacity, andminimizing the possibility of missing a vehicle to service. Vehicleidentification may be accomplished by reference to FIG. 4 in thefollowing manner.

Communications element 434 that is coupled to the vehicle may be, forinstance, in the form of physical markings such as a bar code or may bea passive component such as an RFID or optical tag device, or an activecomponent such as a radio, an ultrasonic transmitter or a conductiontransponder. Correspondingly, communications element 414 that is coupledto the refueling system may be any suitable reader device. Thus, whencommunications elements 414 and 434 are operatively coupled together,communications element 414 may read the vehicle identificationinformation from communications element 434. At least a portion of thisvehicle identification information may then be communicated to the datacommunications controller 230 via conventional means known in the art.

FIG. 7 illustrates a system 100 in accordance with another embodiment ofthe present invention, wherein the data communications controllerresides in the vehicle. System 100 of FIG. 7 includes elements that aresimilar to those elements that comprise system 100 in FIG. 1. Howeverthe connectivity between the elements illustrated in FIG. 7 and theirassociated functionality is slightly different from the connectivity andthe associated functionality of the elements illustrated in FIG. 1.System 100 of FIG. 7 includes a communications network element 110 thatresides on a fixed network infrastructure and that is coupled to one ormore data repositories (not shown), a data communications controller120, a first communications element 130 that is coupled to a system forperforming a primary service function on a vehicle, and a secondcommunications element 140 that is coupled to the vehicle. The datacommunications controller 120 manages the transfer of data between thevehicle and one or more data repositories.

Data transfer to and from the vehicle is enabled using system 100 asfollows. Upon detection of the initiation of a primary service function,a communications link 150 is established that enables the transfer ofdata to or from the vehicle. In one embodiment, the vehicle, or one ormore devices in the vehicle, may signal the data communicationscontroller 120 when the primary service function has been initiated. Forinstance, in the case where the primary service function is refueling,the signal that the fueling process has been initiated may be generatedas a function of opening a fuel door on the vehicle, removing a fuelcap, detecting fuel flow, detecting a change in the level of fuel in thevehicle's fuel tank, etc. In an alternative embodiment, the secondcommunications element 140 may signal to the data communicationscontroller 120 when communications link 150 has been established.

Communications link 150 may be established, for instance, as a functionof the operative coupling of the first communications element 130 thatis coupled to the primary service function system and the secondcommunications element 140 that is coupled to the vehicle. The datacommunications controller 120 then manages the transfer of data from thevehicle to communications network element 110, and ultimately to a datarepository via the established communications link 150. In the samemanner, data may be transferred from the data repository to the vehiclevia the established communications link 150. Then upon the terminationof the service function and, correspondingly, the communications link150, or alternatively, upon the completion of the transfer of apredetermined amount of data, the data communications controller 120manages the termination of the data transfer. Those of ordinary skill inthe art will realize that the method for data transfer in accordancewith the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the flow diagramillustrated in FIG. 3 can be performed by the system 100 illustrated inFIG. 7.

In an alternative embodiment with respect to system 100 of FIG. 7,wherein the data communications controller resides in the vehicle, thecommunications link that enables data transfer between the vehicle andthe data repository may, alternatively, be established as a function ofa WLAN device coupled between the communications network element 110 andthe vehicle and having the functionality as described by reference toFIG. 5.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will further realize that theimplementation of the present invention is not limited to the servicingof a vehicle but may be applicable to the servicing of other entitiessuch as residences, roadside utility entities, etc. Thus, in anotherembodiment of the invention, the primary service function system couldbe mobile and the entity being serviced could be fixed orsemi-permanently located. Such an embodiment would enable the transferof information such as license plate numbers captured by roadside radardisplays while they are being refueled or the upload of usage data fromrural homes when an associated liquid petroleum gas or water tank isbeing refilled or waste is being removed from the septic system.

While the invention has been described in conjunction with specificembodiments thereof, additional advantages and modifications willreadily occur to those skilled in the art. The invention, in its broaderaspects, is therefore not limited to the specific details,representative apparatus, and illustrative examples shown and described.Various alterations, modifications and variations will be apparent tothose skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Forinstance, the present invention may be implemented in conjunction withany type of vehicle including, but not limited to, cars, boats,helicopters, motorcycles, etc. that require some form of periodicservicing. The invention may also include other means of couplingcommunications elements such as acoustic coupling. Thus, it should beunderstood that the invention is not limited by the foregoingdescription, but embraces all such alterations, modifications andvariations in accordance with the spirit and scope of the appendedclaims.

1. A method for data transfer comprising the steps of: detecting theinitiation of a primary service function being performed on an entity ina known location; responsive to said detection, establishing acommunications link with said entity; managing a transfer of data viasaid communications link; and terminating said data transfer when atleast one condition has been met.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein saidcondition is the completion of said primary service function.
 3. Themethod of claim 1, wherein said condition is the completion of thetransfer of a predetermined amount of data.
 4. The method of claim 1,wherein said communications link is established via an electricalconnection.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein said communications linkis established via a wireless Local Area Network connection.
 6. Themethod of claim 1, wherein said communications link is established viaelectrical field coupling.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein saidcommunications link is established via optical coupling.
 8. The methodof claim 1 further comprising the step of determining the identity ofthe entity being serviced.
 9. The method of claim 1 further comprisingthe step of determining a first amount of data to be transferred. 10.The method of claim 9 further comprising causing the transfer of saidfirst amount of data to be completed prior to the termination of saidprimary service function.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein causingthe transfer of said first amount of data to be completed prior to thetermination of said primary service function includes causing anoperator of the primary service function to continue the primary servicefunction until the transfer of said first amount of data is completed.12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of notifying theoperator of the primary service function of the progress of the transferof said first amount of data to cause said operator to continue theprimary service function until the transfer of said first amount of datais completed.
 13. The method of claim 9, wherein said first amount ofdata is determined as a function of an estimation of the duration of theprimary service function.
 14. The method of claim 1, wherein saidprimary service function is refueling.
 15. The method of claim 1,wherein said entity is a vehicle.
 16. A method for data transfercomprising the steps of: detecting the initiation of a refuelingfunction being performed on an entity in a known location; determiningthe identity of the entity being serviced; responsive to said detection,establishing a communications link with said identified entity; managinga transfer of data via said communications link; and terminating saiddata transfer when at least one condition has been met.
 17. A device forenabling a communications link to be established with an entity while itis being refueled, said device comprising: a first communicationselement coupled to a fueling system; and a second communications elementcoupled to said entity, wherein a communications link is establishedwith said entity when said first and second communications elements areoperatively aligned.
 18. The device of claim 17, wherein said firstcommunications element is coupled to a fueling nozzle and said secondcommunications element is coupled to a fuel receptacle.
 19. The deviceof claim 17, wherein said first communications element comprises atleast one electrical lead and second communications element comprises atleast one electrical surface.
 20. The device of claim 17, wherein saidfirst communications element comprises at least one electrical surfaceand second communications element comprises at least one electricallead.
 21. The device of claim 17, wherein said first and secondcommunications elements are each an optical device.
 22. The device ofclaim 17, wherein said first and second communications elements are eacha wireless device.
 23. The device of claim 17, wherein said first andsecond communications elements each comprise a wireless Local AreaNetwork device.
 24. A system for enabling the transfer of data betweenan entity and at least one data repository while a primary servicefunction is being performed on said entity, said system comprising: acommunications network element connected to an infrastructure comprisingat least one data repository, a data communications controller coupledto said communications network element and a primary service functionsystem for detecting the initiation of a primary service function andmanaging a transfer of data between an entity and said at least one datarepository; a first communications element coupled to said datacommunications controller and to said primary service function system;and a second communications element coupled to said entity andoperatively aligned with said first communications element forestablishing a communications link for enabling said data transfer. 25.The system of claim 24, wherein said data communications controller isconnected to said infrastructure.
 26. A system for enabling the transferof data between an entity and at least one data repository while aprimary service function is being performed on said entity, said systemcomprising: a communications network element connected to aninfrastructure comprising at least one data repository, a datacommunications controller coupled to said entity for detecting theinitiation of a primary service function and managing a transfer of databetween said entity and said at least one data repository; a firstcommunications element coupled to said primary service function systemand said communications network element; and a second communicationselement coupled to said entity and to said data communicationscontroller and operatively aligned with said first communicationselement for establishing a communications link for enabling said datatransfer.
 27. A system for enabling the transfer of data between anentity and at least one data repository while a primary service functionis being performed on said entity, said system comprising: acommunications network element coupled to an infrastructure comprisingat least one data repository, a data communications controller coupledto said communications network element and to a primary service functionsystem for detecting the initiation of a primary service function andmanaging a transfer of data between an entity and said at least one datarepository; and a wireless Local Area Network device coupled to saiddata communications controller for establishing a communications linkfor enabling said data transfer.
 28. The system of claim 27 furthercomprising a first communications element coupled to said primaryservice function system and said data communications controller forindicating to said data communications controller that said primaryservice function has started.
 29. The system of claim 28 furthercomprising a second communications element coupled to said entity andoperatively aligned with said first communications element for providinginformation identifying said entity.
 30. A system for enabling thetransfer of data between an entity and at least one data repositorywhile a primary service function is being performed on said entity, saidsystem comprising: a communications network element coupled to aninfrastructure comprising at least one data repository, a datacommunications controller coupled to an entity for detecting theinitiation of a primary service function and managing a transfer of databetween an entity and said at least one data repository; and a wirelessLocal Area Network device coupled to said communications network elementfor establishing a communications link for enabling said data transfer.